Southampton e-scooter operating hours extended until 23:00

The e-scooters were previously available until 22:00

E-scooter operating hours have been extended in Southampton.

The vehicles are now available until 23:00 after data from the Department for Transport (DfT) showed a high usage in the city at night.

Voi, which runs the scheme, said feedback showed one in five women felt safer on an e-scooter at night rather than walking or on public transport.

Southampton City Council backed the extra hour as a "more flexible" option for travel.

Voi also claimed its data showed there was no impact on accident rates when using e-scooters at night as they have built-in front and rear lights that switch on automatically and have a bell.

However, riders are still advised to wear reflective clothing and a helmet.

'Used inappropriately'

Jack Samler, Voi general manager, said: "It is great to be able to give people a more affordable, convenient option that will help to reduce car dependency and, therefore, pollution and emissions in our cities."

Councillor Eamonn Keogh said: "This extra hour gives an additional, more flexible option for all, especially to shift workers and those without access to a car later on at night."

A request for e-scooters to be used past 22:00 in Portsmouth was turned down last month after the council raised fears they could be used inappropriately.

The trial schemes are being funded by the DfT and are set to run in both Southampton and Portsmouth until May 2024.

A ban on rental e-scooters has recently come into force in Paris in response to a rising number of people being injured and killed in the French capital.

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